Norwegian winger joins Albion

ALBION have completed the signing of Norwegian under-21 international Henrik Rorvik Bjordal for an undisclosed fee, subject to international clearance.

The right-winger has joined the Seagulls from Aalesunds FK, after he passed a medical yesterday. He has signed a contract until June, 2018, and the 18-year-old will initially be part of the under-21 squad.

Seagulls manager Chris Hughton says Bjordal’s next aim is to break into the club’s first-team squad: “I’m delighted to welcome Henrik to the club. He’s an exciting young prospect, a quick player who can play as a winger or attacking midfielder.

“He already has a good deal of experience for his age having played a great number of games at senior level in Norway’s top division.

“He broke through to the senior team in Norway at a very young age and established himself quickly at his club; here, he will begin with our under-21 squad, and has the opportunity to make that step up into our first-team squad.”

Bjordal came through the ranks at Aalesunds and has been a regular in the senior side over the past two seasons, having broken into the first-team aged just 16 in 2013.

He made his debut for the club back in May, 2013, as the club recorded an emphatic 7-1 win over Lillestrom. His breakthrough campaign came in the 2014 season, when he made a total of 25 appearances.

He was ever present in 2015 and has made 60 first-team appearances in three seasons, including 54 in the Norwegian Tippeligaen, scoring four goals. He has also represented Norway at every youth team level from the under-15s to the under-21s.